Mumbai: Old double-decker bus gets second life as BEST’s rolling museum

The restored double-decker bus at Anik Depot, Sion, that will be unveiled as a transport museum on BEST’s anniversary, August 7. PIC/SHADAB KHAN

4007/BM/A is now the permanent address of a beloved icon: the red double-decker bus that served Mumbai for over 15 years. While 4007 is the bus series number, BM/A stands for BEST Museum/Anik, its new home, where it has been reborn as ‘Sangrahika', India's first museum-on-wheels dedicated to double-deckers.

This classic Ashok Leyland Routemaster-style bus, with its signature open rear platform and single-cab driver cabin, has been painstakingly restored and repurposed as a walk-through museum. It now chronicles the long legacy of double-decker buses in Mumbai, their pop culture impact, and their global evolution.

Curated by Yatin Pimpale, BEST Museum's curator, and assistant Ambadas Garje, with support from BEST's technical teams and bus enthusiast groups, the bus showcases the rich history of public transport.

"This is the first-of-its-kind initiative in India. We've not only traced the evolution of double-deckers in Mumbai and India, but also showcased international variants and their role in Bollywood," Pimpale said. He recalled how double-deckers stood firm during the city's worst moments, from the 1983 power outage and 26/7 floods to major rail strikes, earning the trust of generations of commuters.

"They weren't just buses; they were symbols of reliability and city life," he added.

The bus will be stationed permanently at Anik Depot, where the BEST Museum is located. It will be officially opened to the public on BEST Day (August 7), which commemorates the municipalisation of the Bombay Electric Supply and Tramways Company in 1947, marking the birth of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST).

When mid-day visited the site, finishing touches were underway. The seats have been removed, and the bus has been converted into a two-level gallery with exhibits, memorabilia, and a TV playing Bollywood clips featuring double-decker buses, from love songs in Shaan to action scenes in Arjun.

Saved by fans

The museum is the result of a successful campaign by Mumbai's bus fans and the public. mid-day had extensively reported on efforts to save these iconic buses from the scrapyard, prompting intervention from the chief minister.

Shubham Bharat Padave, an IT professional and passionate bus fan, had appealed to the BEST administration and state leadership.

"The red double-decker wasn't just a vehicle; it was an emotion. Preserving it means preserving our history. Future generations will now get a glimpse of vintage public transport," he said.

Rupak Dhakate, another bus enthusiast from Malwani who began the preservation movement in 2020, said, "Patience pays! I'm glad our efforts bore fruit. I hope they maintain the double-decker forever. We even booked it for joyrides during the farewell; it was our way of honouring an era."

Legacy of space and speed

Mumbai's first double-deckers hit the streets in 1937, introduced to address increasing traffic congestion. With a 75-seat capacity, compared to 45 on single-deckers, they offered lower per-passenger costs and occupied less road space, making them perfect for the city's narrow roads and growing population.

Routemaster connection

Many of Mumbai's double-deckers were inspired by London's iconic Routemaster, famed for its open rear, red body, and timeless design. The Ashok Leyland versions were near-replicas, tailored for Indian conditions but retaining the charm of their British cousins.